ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that Iran is being rapidly "put out of business" amid escalating Middle East tensions.

"Remember, for all of those absolute “fools” out there, Iran is considered, by everyone, to be the NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR. We are rapidly putting them out of business!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

In an earlier post, he also wrote: “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!”

His remarks came as tensions in the region have intensified since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, with the conflict having killed around 1,300 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and, in more recent strikes, senior figures such as top security official Ali Larijani and Basij forces commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as neighboring countries, including Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states, claiming that the attacks are aimed at US military assets. The retaliation has caused casualties, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted global markets and aviation.